Suitcase, attache case, and the like



Se t. l

p 20 927 F. c. GADsBY surTcA'sE, ATTACHCASE, AND THE LIKE Sheets-Sheet 1 Fild Dec.

lun-'Illu 1,642,851 Sept. 209 4 F. c.

SUITCASE, ATTACH CASE, AND THE LIKE A Filed Deo, e, 192s 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK CECILE GADsBY, or SYDNEY, NEW 'sourir WALES, AUSTRALIA.

SUI'I'CASE, ATTACH CASE, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December rlhis invention relates to suit cases,f attache-cases, hand bags and other similar containers. ln the existing forms of construction of such cases and bags, it is often impossiblel to close and secure the lid should the container be packed slightly beyond its normal capacity.

The object of the invention isl toetfect certain improvements in the construction of io containers of the type above referred to whereby the capacity of the container may be easily and quickly varied Within predetermined limits by raisingor lowering the hinge pivots of the container lid without de- 15 taching same from the container body, and

whereby the lidv in each of the various positions may be closed and easily secured in a position parallel to the body.

The invention comprises suitable means which may be applied hinge side of the container .lid or on both sides thereof whereby the hinging and locking positions may be easily and securely adjusted to vary the'capacityr of the container.

In the accompanying drawings various suitable means for carrying out the invention are illustrated.

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing a suitable means for varying the position of the hinge pivots particularly applicable to cheaply constructed suit cases.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan of same.'

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a suitable compensating clasp device for se` curing and locking the lid in various posin tions. l

Figure fl is a perspective view of a further method of varying the position of the hinge pivots;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the locking bolt controlling member Figure 7 is a perspective view of acomplete suit case having thereon a further means for varying the posit-ion of the hinge pivots and variable position locking means; Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the suit ease illustrated in Figure 7 showing in detail a method of varying the position of the hinge pivots particularly suitable for high class leather suit cases. l

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of same; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing either on 'the lock or Figure 5 is a sectional elevation ofsame;

6, 1923. Serial No. 679,033.`

details ofthe lockingdevice as applied to t-he suitcase shown in Figure 7 Throughout the specification the lid ineinber is referred to as A and the body of the case as B.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2; a casingll containing the spring 12 is attached tothe inside of the body B at the rear corners.

The spring 12 bears against the inwardly projecting end 18 of the member. 11i which passesthrough the slot 16 in the body B and lacts as a bearing for the hinge member attached to the lid A.

The other end of the member 14 is turned inwards to form a looking bolt 17 which enters any one of aseries of holes 18 formed in the body B, the'interior side of the holes a being preferably covered by a protect-ive eas-l ing 19.

The method illustrated of removably housing the spikes 17 may obviously be varied, for example,v the metal casing 19 may bel on theoutside of the body `B and have holes y18 to receive the bolts 17.

, In Figures l and 5 the hinges 15 are pivoted on inverted U shaped members 2O which pass over the back edge 21 ofthe body' B and enter adjacentcasings 22 a'ixed to the inside thereof. The. parts of the members 2() within these casings vare provided with recesses or notches 23 which are engaged by bolt members 2st,'which are provided with a suitable controlling device such.V as'tlie finger pieces '25 by means of which the bolt membersv are Withdrawn against the pressure of the spring 26 contained within the cen-v trally disposed casing 27 att-ached to 'the bag. The members are provided with stops 2Oa to prevent them from being withdrawn from the casing 2,3. Y i

Referring to Figures 7 8 and 9; a casing 2S is attached at each rear corner within the bodyv B and within the casing are a number of radial slots 29 adapted to receive the tail piece 30 of a segmental thrust block 31 against which the spring 32 beais.

The hinge member 15 is pivoted to the link` 33 which is in turn attached to the tail piece 30 by the memberA 34 which passes through the body B and cover 35 of the casing 28. v Y y One form of lock or catch adapted to permit the front portion ofthe lid to assume.

positions corresponding with the varying positions of the hinged portion is shown in Figure 3 andy consists in forming additional holes 36 in the strap 37 of a catch oit well known type.

In Figure 10 another compensating locking device is shown consisting oit' a casing 38 attached to" the body B o'li4 the bag Aand a locking member 39 pivot-ally attached to the lid A.

The member 39 has recesses or the like 40 into any one of which as required the bolt 4l may enter. This compensating locking device is similar to the hinge varying device illustrated in Figure 4.

The bolt 41 is normally kept in its engaged position by the spring 42 and is withdrawn therefrom by the operation of the iinger piece 43. A similar bolt in 'the casing 3Sa (see Figure 7) is operated with the bolt 41 by means oi the rod 44. Provision may be made in the casings 38 and 33ll for the reception of' the rings 45 to which the handle oit the bag is attached and 46 is a key hole whereby the bolts may be retained in their respective: .recesses by the operation of a suitable lock and key.

In operation thek capacity of Vthe bag is increased by altering 4the relative positions of the hinge pivots. In Figures 1 and 2 the lid is pressed outwards to withdraw the bolts 17 from one or other oit the holes 13. The bolts are then allowed to enter another' pair ot holes 18 andt are retained therein by the action of the springs 12 on the members 14. In Figure 4, the iinger pieces 25 are operated to withdraw the bolts 24 from the recesses, the lid is thenv raised or lowered and the bolts allowed-` to re-enter the recesses under the influence of the spring 27.r

In Figures 8 and 9 the lid is pressed outwards so'that the springisA compressed by the'segmental block 31 andthe tail piece 30 withdrawn clear of the slots 29.

On the lid being raised or lowered and re 10, or by any other equivalent compensating device.

I claim 1. A suit case, attache case or other like container consisting 'of a body member, a lid therefor, and means `for varying the capacity ot the container comprising a pair ot hinge pivots on the lid attached to inverted U-shaped straps passing over the back oit the body memberV and formed in rt'heshape of a rack adapted to slide within corresponding adjacent casings attached to the interior oi*l the bagl body, lockingbolts in said. casings and adapted to engage the teeth ot said racks and a. spring controlled bolt release device situated centrally between said casings and adapted upon operation to withdraw simultaneously the locking bolts in said casings, and meansior tastening the 'front of the lid` in a position corresponding'to the position oi' the hinge pivots.

2. A container asset out in claim 1 in which the means 'for securing the front of the lid comprise a pair otracks hinged to the front-side ot lid or cover, corresponding adjacent casings secured to the body ot the container, lock bolts adapted to engage'said racks and spring controlled means onv the frontof the body oit the container 'tor simultaneously withdrawing said lock bolts. H V

In testii'nony whereof I havev aiiixedmy signature.

FREDERICK GECIL GADSBYV.

suit case, attach. case or otherlike 

